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dcfan427
Reviews
Comic Book: The Movie (2004)
A great movie for all the fan-boys and fan-girls!
This movie follows the adventures of Don Swan (Mark Hamill) as he desperately tries to maintain the integrity of his favorite comic book character (Commander Courage) before a movie studio destroys the character's good image in favor of a more violent, aggressive one.
Commander Courage (a fictional character created by Hamill) was supposedly a patriotic superhero inspired by the bombing of Pearl Harbor to fight against the Axis. His powers were granted by an Indian shaman named the White Wolf. His nephew became his sidekick, Liberty Lad.
The movie studio has no interest in Swan's idealistic character. They want the updated, anti-terrorist vigilante portrayed in the current comic series (once again, fictional). This new character never reveals his face, nor does he even have a secret identity. Instead of his nephew, this new hero is accompanied by a sexy young woman with many weapons, Liberty Lass.
This movie is a David and Goliath struggle between Swan defending the history behind a great character, while the studio feels that the modern way is the only way to make a profit. I felt that this is a very relevant theme for all of the comic book fans who cringe when they watch as a movie adaptation of their favorite hero is not accurate at all. For example, I remember rumors in the late 1990s about a possible Superman movie in which Superman would be portrayed as a human with a strong desire for justice through vengeance. As a dedicated fan of DC Comics, I would be disappointed if a movie did not portray the Man of Steel as an alien who was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, fights for justice as well as mercy, and (most importantly) never takes the life of another human being. That is what Swan's quest to keep Commander Courage authentic is all about; keeping the icon characters true to their roots is all that studios need to do. There is no need to change the original formula.
The movie is filmed similar to a documentary, with Swan and the other characters interacting with other fans at the Comic Con International, which is sure to bring smiles to any fan-boy or fan-girl who has attended a comic convention. The icing on the cake has to be the celebrity appearances by many legendary comic book creators.
VeggieTales: Dave and the Giant Pickle (1996)
Another triumph for Big Idea Productions
The creators of VeggieTales have consistently put out some of the best Christian children's entertainment I have seen in a long time. "Dave and the Giant Pickle" is no exception.
The Biblical story of David and Goliath is told using great computer animation and a cast of (what else) vegetables. Junior Asparagus plays Dave, the youngest of Jesse's sons. While his brothers often pick on him because of his size, Dave realizes that "little guys can do big things, too" as he ventures forward to face Goliath, a giant, Philistine pickle with boxing gloves.
Most of all, this movie is a perfect lesson in self-esteem. Children and parents who watch this movie are reminded that "God made them special and He loves them very much."
I would recommend this video, and the rest of the VeggieTales collection, for every family's collection.
The Family Man (2000)
Mediocre at best
I saw this movie on a sneak preview. How I wish that I had seen something else instead.
The plot is very predictable in this "Mr.-Destiny-in-reverse" story. The writers have concocted a character, played by Nicolas Cage, for whom it is nearly impossible to feel sympathy for. Most of the humorous lines were the same old cliches that have plagued Hollywood movies for years. Although the movie had its moments, I couldn't help but wonder "when is this movie going to end?". The best thing that kept the movie barely alive was the performance of the child actress who played Cage and Leoni's daughter, Annie.
The biggest difference between "the Family Man" and "Mr. Destiny" is that, in the latter, Jim Belushi wishes that his life was different and realizes that it is better left the way it was; while, in the former, Nicolas Cage is completely satisfied with his life before AND MOSTLY DURING seeing the "glimpse" of what have been.
If you must see this movie, then it is best to wait until it comes out on video cassette. It is not worth paying $7.50 to sit through on a Friday night.
My rating: 5/10
X-Men (2000)
X-Men delivers!
Being a fan of comic books, I wasn't sure whether or not I would like a movie based on the best-selling comic of all time. X-Men also received a lot of hype, causing movie-goers to expect a movie to be better than it actually is. However, X-Men was a very good film. Not only is the movie teeming with eye-popping visual effects, but it also has intelligence, emotion, and humor. Most of the characters are portrayed with great attention to the conflicts between them (Professor X vs. Magneto; Wolverine vs. Cyclops). The only things that stop me from giving X-Men a rating of 10 are that Wolverine's past could have been revealed in more detail and that Storm has very little personality (let's work on her more in the sequel). Overall, a very good movie. X-Men delivers! 9/10
The Matrix (1999)
Good film
I heard so many great things about "The Matrix" that I had to see it. Overall, I was impressed. The special effects were astounding and the movie encourages the viewers to question reality. My only complaint is that Laurence Fishburne's character spent a great deal of time explaining exactly what the Matrix is. I feel that these explanations got a little bit dry after a while. Still, the concept of the Matrix is so different from reality that I suppose some explanations were necessary. Overall, a good film. 8/10.